Magh Mela, one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, will begin on January 3, 2026, on the sacred flood plains of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
The festival attracts millions of Hindu devotees and revolves around a ritual bath at the Triveni Sangam – the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati – which is believed to cleanse sins and bestow lasting spiritual merit.
The 2026 Magh Mela will last for 44 days and will end with Mahashivratri rituals on February 15. At the heart of the festival lies the strict observance of Kalpavas, during which devotees remain by the river bank for the entire Hindu month of Magha. They bathe three times a day, eat simple food only once, sleep on the ground and devote themselves entirely to prayer and meditation.
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A Calendar of Holy Baths
Although ritual bathing takes place every day, certain dates are considered particularly auspicious and are expected to see the largest crowds. According to the traditional calendar, major bathing dates include:
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January 3: Paush Purnima Snan (inaugural bath)
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14 January: Makar Sankranti Snan
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18 January: Mauni Amavasya (first and highest number of bathing day)
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23 January: Basant Panchami Snan
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February 1: Maghi Purnima Snan
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15 February: Mahashivratri Snan (concluding event)
The Uttar Pradesh administration is planning massive logistics to handle the rush of pilgrims, arranging for extensive temporary infrastructure including pontoon bridges, sanitation systems and huge tent settlements.
It is important to distinguish the annual Magh Mela from the much larger Kumbh Mela, which is held at the same location but only once every 12 years and on a much larger scale. Despite being comparatively small, the Magh Mela remains a deeply important place in Hindu devotional life, preserving centuries-old ascetic traditions and attracting pilgrims from across India and the global diaspora.
During the festival, the Sangam takes on a transformative aura, with the air filled with resonating mantras, bhajans and devotional music creating a vivid landscape of collective faith.
For Kalpavasis – devotees who observe a month-long fast – the fair represents a profound spiritual retreat from material comforts, reflecting the enduring power of asceticism and devotion within Hindu practice.
As pilgrims prepare themselves for the first holy dip on January 3, Prayagraj once again gets ready to host this massive expression of faith, reaffirming the age-old tradition that continues to shape the spiritual rhythm of India.